Monday, October 20, 2008

Entry: Burma-Shave

Burma-Shave was, surprise surprise, a shaving cream. But, what it's most famous for is it's marketing campaign, which ran from 1925 to 1963. The campaign was comprised of cutesy rhymes that were posted line-by-line on consecutive billboards, so you'd read them as you drove down the road.

I think what really shocked me was the number of examples they had in the article. Like, really. I'm not surprised that there are detailed articles on The Simpsons, but a marketing campaign that ended almost 50 years ago? I don't know if I'm impressed or weirded out.

Anywho, here were some of my faves:

1931: No matter / How you slice it / It's still your face / Be humane / Use / Burma-Shave1936: Riot at / Drug store / Calling all cars / 100 customers / 99 jars / Burma-Shave1947: I use it too / The bald man said / It keeps my face / Just like / My head / Burma-Shave1952: The wolf / Is shaved / So neat and trim / Red Riding Hood / Is chasing him / Burma-Shave

1 comment:

I only wish I'd discovered your blog a week ago. I got dragged into going to Dollywood and my son insisted we ride the old time cars a hundred times. The whole track is covered in these Burma Shave signs and I thought it was just some more barfy/cutsy Dollywood schmaltz. Color me surprised to find out it was a real thing!